Window unit



Sept. 18, 1962 E. M. TRAMMELL, JR 3,054,152

WINDOW UNIT 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 25. 1958 FIGL INVENTOR, EARL M. TRAMMELL JR.

BY C 444.

ATTORNEYS.

FIG.3.

E. M. TRAMMELL, JR 3,054,152

WINDOW UNIT 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY-5.

Sept. 18, 1962 Filed July 23. 1958 Sept. 18, 1962 E. M. TRAMMELL, JR 3,

wnmow UNIT Filed July 25. 1958 4 SheetsSheet 3 &

Mww 7 w Um FIG. l3.

Jawa'y'i INVENTOR, I EARL M.TRAMMELL JR.

BY ATTORNEYS.

Sept. 18, 1962 E. M. TRAMMELL, JR 3,054,152

WINDOW UNIT Filed July 25, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG.|4.

INVENTOR, EARL M.TRAMMELL JR.

ATTORNEYS.

n IIIIISI vllillllilillilll.

United States Patnt 3,054,152 WINDOW UNIT Earl M. Tramrnell, Jr., Gatesworth Apts., 243 Union Blvd., St. Louis, Mo. Filed July 23, 1958, Ser. No. 750,337 7 Claims. (CI. 20-52) This invention relates generally to improvements in a window unit, and more particularly to improved features in a window unit of sliding sash type adapted to facilitate manual removal of the sash from the sashway and to afford an effective weather seal.

It is an important objective of the present invention to afford a means for connecting and supporting a sash entirely at one side of the sashway in a window unit, such window unit usually being of double-hung sliding sash type, the means maintaining the sash in a predetermined fixed path of travel and providing a selectively detachable connection to permit sash removal.

Another important object is realized by the structural arrangement in that a yieldable jamb may be utilized at one side of the sashway which permits lateral sash movement after operative disengagement of the sash from the sash-connecting means at the opposite side of the sashway. Because of the structural connection of the counterbalance sash connector and the sash, the resilient means utilized to bias the yieldable jamb can be relatively weak so that very little physical effort is required to depres the jamb laterally incident to sash removal.

Still another important object is achieved by the provision of a fixed jamb having a track at one side of the sashway adapted to carry and coact with the sashconnecting means that operatively connects the sash and counterbalance, the track and sash-connecting means operating to support the sash completely at one side of the sashway and to maintain the sash in weather sealing relation to the fixed jamb.

Other advantages are realized by the provision of selectively interlocking means on the track and sashconnecting means that serves to arrest the counterbalance sash means and hence enables operative disengagement of the sash and sash-connecting means incident to sash removal.

Yet another important object is realized by the provision of cam means that automatically disengages the sash connector and track upon sash replacement, and conditions the sash connector for slidable movement along the track upon sash actuation.

Another important object is realized by a counterbalance sash connector that operates normally along the track in a fixed path of travel and engages a hook means on the top of one sash stile to support the sash weight, the sash connector and track supporting the sash completely at one side of the sashway in a manner to preclude tilting or cocking of the sash in a direction toward the yieldable jamb at the other side of the sashway.

An important objective is realized by locating the hook means on the upper end of the sash slightly inset from the sash side and by having a cam margin on the sash connector engaging the hook means so that the sash weight tends to urge the sash side against the fixed jamb wall to provide a seal.

Another important object is achieved by the provision of anti-friction means projecting laterally outward of the sash and engaging the adjacent metal jambs to hold a major portion of the sash stiles away from the jambs, whereby to facilitate lifting and lowering of the sash.

Another important object is realized by the provision of recesses in the jambs adapted to receive the projecting anti-friction means when the sashes are brought to a closed position so that the sash stiles will bear against the jambs in sealing relation.

Another important objective is provided by an improved resilient means behind the yieldable jamb in the window unit, such resilient means consisting of a pad of fiber glass or other resilient yet porous material between the yieldable metal jamb and the fixed wood jamb at one side of the sashway, and of a flexible air-tight liner along the outside margin of the pad engaging said jambs along their length to provide an air-tight seal.

A further object of the invention is to realize a window unit which in addition to providing the several advantages noted above, realizes a window unit that may be factory produced so as to require but a minimum of assembling operation at the building situs, and which may be economically produced and sold.

The foregoing and numerous other objects of the invention will more clearly appear from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment, particularly when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the window unit;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary view of the upper right hand corner of the window unit shown in FIG. 1, illustrating the connection of the top sash to the counterbalance means;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the top sash connector as seen from the left in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary view, partly in cross section, illustrating the connection of the bottom sash to its counterbalance means;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the bottom sash connector as seen from the left in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the right hand jamb assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the top sash connector attached to the fixed metal jam-b illustrated in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a rear elevational view of the top sash connector as seen from the right of FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the bottom sash connector showing its connection to the fixed metal jamb illustrated in FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a rear elevational view of the 'bottom sash connector as seen from the right of FIG. 4;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary view, partly in cross section, illustrating the construction of the counterbalance means, as seen along line 1111 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view of the window unit shown in FIG. 1, as seen along a horizontal plane, the bottom and top sashes being illustrated in their closed position;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary view, partly in cross section, similar to FIG. 12, but illustrating the removal of the bottom sash from the sashway;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged side elevational View, partly in cross section, of the uppermost portion of the left hand jamb assembly illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 15 is a cross sectional view at right angles to the view of FIG. 14, and

, FIG. 16 is a cross sectional view as seen along line 1616 of FIG. 12.

Referring now by characters of reference to the drawings, and to first to FIG. 1, it is seen that the window unit construction includes a window frame generally indicated at 10 receiving a bottom sash referred to at 11 and a top sash referred to at 12. The bottom sash includes right stile 13, left stile 14, bottom rail 15 and check rail 16. The top sash 12 includes a right stile 17, left stile 18, top rail 20 and a check rail (not shown) positioned behind the check rail 16 of the bottom sash 11. The top and bottom sashes 11 and 12 are shown in their fully closed position. g The construction of the right handjambof the window unit illustrated in FIG. 1 is perhaps best shown in FIGS.

6 and 12. The window frame includes a wood jamb 21 connected to a blind stop 22 at one side and a wood stop 23 at the opposite side. Fixed by a plurality of screws 24 to the wood jamb 21 is a metal jamb generally indicated at 25.

The fixed metal jamb 25 includes a flange 26 engaging blind stop 22, and is formed adjacent the blind stop 22 to provide a track portion 27 constituting a vertical channel adapted to receive and guide a top sash balance connector referred to at 28. The fixed metal jamb 25 includes a wall portion constituting a part of the track portion 27 that extends away from the wood jamb 21 to provide a lateral wall 30 adapted to engage the stile 17 of top sash 12. A vertical longitudinal slot 31 is provided in the lateral wall 30 of the metal jamb 25 which communicates with the interior of track portion 27. In addition, the metal jamb 25 is provided with a vertical longitudinal rail 32 adapted to interfit a corresponding vertical groove 33 provided in the sash stile 17.

The metal jamb 25 provides a similar structure for the bottom sash 11, the jamb 25 including a flange 34 engaging stop 23, and a track portion 35 constituting a vertical longitudinal channel adapted to receive a bottom sash balance connector referred to at 36. Similarly, a part of the track portion 35 extends away from the wood jamb 21 to the lateral wall 30 adapted to engage the side of the sash stile 13 of bottom sash 11. A slot 37 is provided in the lateral wall 30 of the fixed metal jamb 25 which communicates with the interior of track portion 35. Furthermore, a similar rail 38 is provided on the lateral wall 30 which is adapted to interfit a vertical elongate groove 40 provided in bottom sash stile 13.

The lateral wall 30 of fixed metal jamb 25 between the track portions 27 and 35 is spaced from the wood jamb 21 top rovide a compartment adapted to receive a pair of counter-balances 41 and 42 connected operatively with the top and bottom sashes respectively.

The counterbalances 41 and 42 utilized in this particular window construction are of a well known conventional type, the details of which are best shown in FIG. 11. For example, each counterbalance includes a frame 43 attached to the fixed metal jamb 25. Fastened to the top of frame 43 is a pulley frame 44 carrying a plurality of pulleys 45. Slidably mounted in counterbalance frame 43 is a carriage 46 that carries a plurality of corresponding pulleys 47. A tension spring 48 is attached to pulley carriage 46 and to frame 43. A counterbalance cord 50 is attached at one end to carriage 46, looped over the pulleys and 47 alternately, as illustrated, and then passed through an opening into the track portion 35 so that the opposite end is fastened to the bottom sash balance connector 36. A similar counterbalance means is provided for the top sash balance connector 28.

The lateral wall 30 immediately in front of track portion 27 is provided with a recess 51 communicating with the vertical slot 31, best shown in FIG. 6. A similar recess 52 is provided in the lateral wall 30 immediately in front of the track portion 35 which communicates with vertical slot 37. The particular location of recesses 51 and 52 and their functions will be explained in detail subsequently upon further description of parts.

The structure of the top sash balance connector 28 is best shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 7 and 8. The top sash connector 28 consists of a body member 53 having cross sectional dimensions adapted to closely yet slidably interfit the channel provided by the vertical track portion 27. A lever 54 is pivotally mounted to body member 53. A spring clip 55 disposed operatively between the body member 53 and lever 54 serves to exert a retaining force therebetween which tends to hold the lever 54 in any adjusted position. The lever 54 is positioned in the slot 31 and is operable therealong during normal operation of the top sash 12.

During retention of the counterbalance means incident to sash removal, the lever 54 is movable into the recess 51 as is illustrated in FIG. 7. From FIG. 7, it is apparent that the upper end of recess 51 is provided with a hook formation 56 adapted to receive and retain lever 54 when the connector 28 is attached. The lower end of recess 51 is provided with a sloping cam surface 57 adapted to effect automatic replacement of the lever 54 into the vertical slot 31 incident to replacement of the top sash 12, as will be explained subsequently in more detail.

Attached to the lower end of body member 53 is an arm 58 that extends outwardly of the track member 27 through slot 31 into the sashway. The outermost portion of arm 58 includes a sloping lower margin 60 and a straight sloping top margin 61.

The counterbalance cord 50 extends through body member 53 into a tapered compartment 62. A knot 63 tied in the end of cord 50 is located in the compartment 62 and fastens the cord 50 to the body member 53.

The structure of the bottom sash balance connector 36 is best shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 9 and 10. It is seen that the bottom sash connector 36 includes a body member 64 having a cross sectional dimension adapted to interfit closely yet slidably the channel formed by the vertical track portion 35.

A lever 65 is pivotally attached to the body member 64, and is frictionally retained in adjusted position by a spring clip 66 disposed operatively between the lever 65 and body member 64. Under normal operation of the bottom sash 11, the lever 65 extends into and operates along the vertical elongate slot 37 provided in the lateral wall of the fixed metal jamb 25 immediately in front of the track portion 35.

When the bottom sash connector 36 is retained incident to sash removal, the lever 65 is movable into the recess 52, as is best shown in FIG. 9. It will be noted that the recess 52 is formed at its upper end by a hook formation 66 adapted to engage and retain the lever 65 when so connected. The lower end of recess 52 is formed by a downwardly sloping camming margin 67 adapted to engage and cam the lever 65 back into the slot 37 for normal operation, incident to replacement of the sash 11.

Attached to the lower end of body member 64- is an arm 68 that extends outwardly through slot 37 into the sashway. The outermost portion of arm 68 is provided with an upwardly sloping cam margin 70 and a straight inclined upper margin 71. The function and advantages of margins 70 and 71 of arm 68 will be explained subsequently.

The balance cord 50 of the associated counterbalance means extends downwardly through the body member 64 and into tapered compartment 72. A knot 73 provided at the end of cord 50 in compartment 72 fixes the cord 50 to the body member 64 of the bottom sash connector 36.

The connection of the top sash 12 with its balance connector 28 is best shown in FIGS. 2 and 12. The side of stile 17 is provided with a vertical groove 74 at its uppermost end, the groove 74 being aligned directly in front of slot 31 of the fixed metal jamb 25 when the sash 12 is located in the sashway. Fastened by screw 75 to sash stile 17 within the groove 74 is a hook 76 having a downturned portion adapted normally to engage and seat on the upper straight margin 61 of sash connector arm 58. The hook 76 is located downwardly from the top of the sash 17 so that the lever 54 is located just below the head jamb 77 when the sash connector 28 is connected to hook 76 and when the top sash 12 is in its fully closed position.

It will be particularly and importantly noted that the hook 76 is spaced inwardly from the outermost edge 78 of sash. stile 17. Because the sash 12 is supported entirely at its upper end by sash connector 28, and because the weight of the sash is transmitted by hook 76 to the sloping cam margin 61 of connector arm 58, the straight camming margin 61 tends to urge the sash 12 to the right (FIG. 2), so that the margin 78 of sash stile 17 is urged against the lateral wall 30 of the fixed metal jamb 25 in sealing relation.

It will be noted that the lever 54 is located substantially at the top of the top sash 12 in groove 74 and is accessible from the top when the sash is lowered, the advantages of which will be subsequently described.

The connection of the bottom sash 11 to the balance connector 36 is best shown in FIGS. 4 and 12. The side margin of sash stile 13 is provided with a vertical groove 80 along its uppermost portion, the groove 80 being aligned directly in front of the slot 37 of track portion 35 when the bottom sash 11 is located in the sashway.

Attached to sash stile 13 in groove 80 by screw 81 is a hook 82 that engages and seats on the straight sloping margin 71 of connector arm 68. The top of hook 82 lies substantially flush with the top margin of the bottom sash 11. The bottom sash 11 is supported entirely at its upper right hand side by the interconnection of hook 82 with the balance connector 36.

Again it is particularly and importantly pointed out that the hook 82 is spaced inwardly from the outermost margin 83 of the bottom sash stile 13. Because the weight of bottom sash 11 is transmitted by the downturned hook 82 on the uppermost margin 71 of connector arm 68, the inclined margin 71 tends to cam the sash 11 to the right (FIG. 4) so that the outermost margin 83 of the sash stile 13 is urged against the lateral wall 30 of the fixed metal jamb 25 in sealing relation when the bottom sash 11 is moved to its closed position.

The lever 65 of the bottom sash connector 36 is located substantially at the top of the bottom sash 11 so as to be readily accessible, the advantages of which will be subsequently described.

The detailed construction of the left hand jamb assembly is best shown in FIGS. l2-15 inclusive. Such left hand jamb assembly includes a wood jamb 84 attached at one side to a blind stop 85 and at the opposite side to an inside stop 86.

A yieldable metal jamb 87 is located between the blind stop 85 and inside stop 86 in spaced relation inwardly of the wood jamb 84. The yieldable jamb 87 includes lateral flanges 88' adapted to engage the side stops 85 and 86, and includes a pair of rails 90 and 91 extending longitudinally vertically the length of the yieldable jamb 87, the rails 90 and 91 being adapted to interfit the vertical longitudinal grooves 92 and 93 formed respectively in the top sash 12 and bottom sash 11.

As will be explained subsequently, the outermost margins of the left sash stiles 18 and -14 of the top and bottom sashes 12 and 11 engage the flat lateral wall provided by yieldable jamb 87 in sealing relation when the sashes are located in the closed position.

Located behind the yieldable jamb 87 between the jamb 87 and the wood jamb 84 is a resilient means 94 represented in the particular case shown in FIG. 12 by a pad of fiber glass or other like resilient material. to be understood of course that other resilient means such as springs can be used alone or in combination with the fiber glass pad to exert an inward pressure on the yieldable jamb 87 tending to urge the jamb 87 against the sashes 11 and 12.

The yieldable jamb 87 is connected to wood jamb 84 by a plurality of screws 95, the head of screws 95 being located in recess portions formed in the jamb 87.

On the outermost side of the window frame, a thin sheet of flexible air-tight material 96 such as a plastic, is disposed about the outermost side of the fiber glass pad 94 for its entire length, the flexible sheet material 96 engaging the yieldable jamb 87 and the fixed wood jamb 84. Because the fiber glass pad 94 is porous, there would be a tendency for air infiltration between the wood jamb 84 and yieldable jamb 87 from the outside to the inside of the window frame. However, because the flexible sheet material 96 is disposed along the entire side of Itis the fiber glass pad 94 and engages the jambs 84 and 87, the sheet material 96 prevents such air infiltration.

Of course, it is necessary for the sheet material to be flexible, because the fiber glass pad is highly compressible, and the yieldable jamb 87 is movable to compress the fiber glass pad 94 incident to sash removal and replacement.

The uppermost portion of the left hand jamb assembly is best shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. As is seen in FIG. 14, the assembly includes the usual head parting stop 97 and weather strip 98.

A tension spring referred to at 100 is attached by screws 101 to the wood jamb 84 in a position close to the head jamb 77. The spring 100 includes an arm portion more particularly indicated at 102 that extends through an opening 103 provided in the yieldable jamb 87, the flexible arm 102 being adapted to engage the upper left hand side of the upper sash 12 when such sash is moved to its uppermost position, and hence serves to assist in holding the sash in such closed position.

The Window unit includes means disposed operatively between the sash and jambs that minimize friction between such surfaces upon raising and lowering the sashes, and yet permits the sashes and jambs to be disposed in sealing relation when the sashes are moved to their closed positions. Such anti-friction means includes a glide button 104 fixed to the lowermost portion of the right sash stile 17 of top sash 12, and a similar glide button 105 attached to the right sash stile 13 of bottom sash 11. These anti-friction buttons 104 and 105 engage the fixed metal jamb 25 as the sashes are raised and lowered, and maintain a major portion of the right sash stiles away from and out of contact with the metal jamb 25. The fixed metal jamb 25 is provided with recesses 106 and 107 (FIGS. 1 and 6) adapted to receive the anti-friction buttons 104 and 105 respectively when the sashes are moved to their fully closed positions, thus enabling the right sash stiles 13 and 17 to be moved tightly against the fixed metal jamb 25 in sealing relation.

Similarly, the left sash stile 18 of top sash 12 is provided wtih an anti-friction button 108 located substantially at the center of such sash. A corresponding antifriction button 110 is attached to the center of the left sash stile 14 of button sash 11. These buttons 108 and 110 engage the yieldable jamb 87, and serve to maintain the yieldable jamb away from a major portion of the sashes upon normal sash operation and thus minimize frictional drag between the sashes and yieldable jamb 87. I The yieldable jamb 87 is provided with recesses 111 and 112 adapted to receive the anti-friction buttons 108 and 110 respectively of the top and bottom sashes when such sashes are moved to their fully closed positions, thus enabling the yieldable jamb 87 to be moved into sealing engagement with the left sash stiles Y18 and 14 under the compressive action of the fiber glass pad 94.

For completeness of disclosure the operation and functional advantages of the window unit are described in more detail. It is assumed that initially the sashes 11 and 12 are located in their fully closed positions as indicated in FIG. 1. When the upper sash 12 is lowered, the buttons 104 and 108 will move out of the recesses 106 and 111 into engagement respectively with the fixed jamb 25 and yieldable jamb 87. Button 104 causes the sash 12 to move toward the left away from fixed jamb 25 and button 108 causes the yieldable jamb 87 to move away from the sash 12. It is seen that during normal operation of upper sash 12, subsantially the only contact between the sash 12 and the fixed and yieldable jambs 25 and 87 is through the anti-friction buttons 104 and 108. Of course, during this normal operation of sash 12, the hook 76 is in engagement with the balance connector arm 61, and hence the entire weight of the sash 12 is supported at the upper right hand side. As explained previously, this connection prevents the sash 12 from cooking and permits the use of 7 a weaker yielding jamb 87, because such yieldable jamb does not have to support the sash 12.

When the top sash 12 is again moved to its closed position, the buttons 104 and 108 will snap into the jamb recesses 106 and 111, the compressive force of the fiber glass pad 94 urges the yieldable jamb 87 against the left sash stile 18 in sealing relation. The interconnection of hook 76 with cam margin 61 of the balance connector 28 urges the right sash stile 17 against the fixed jamb 25 in sealing relation.

The operation of lower sash 11 is similar to that previously described with respect to top sash 12. When the bottom sash 11 is raised, the buttons 105 and 110 are moved out of recesses 107 and 112, causing the sash 11 to move to the left away from the fixed metal jamb 25 and causing the yieldable jamb 87 to move to the left away from the left sash stile 14. During normal operation of bottom sash 11, substantially the only contact between the jambs and the sash stiles is through the buttons 105 and 110. It is seen that through this arrangement, frictional drag between the bottom sash 11 and the metal jarnbs is reduced to an absolute minimum.

During normal lowering and lifting of bottom sash 11, the hook 82 is connected to the connector arm 71, and is supported entirely at the upper right hand side.

When the bottom sash 11 is moved to its lowered closed position, the buttons 105 and 110 snap into the recesses 107 and 112. When this action occurs, the compressive force of the resilient fiber glass pad 94 causes the yieldable jamb 87 to move against the left sash stile 14 in sealing relation. The camming action of margin 71 of the balance connector 36 on the hook 82 causes the right sash stile 13 to move into sealing relation with the fixed metal jamb 25.

When it is desired to remove the bottom sash 11, the sash 11 is raised until the upper margin of the check rail 16 is substantially opposite and aligned with the recess 52 formed in fixed metal jamb 25. Then the lever 65 is digitally moved into the recess 52 and the balance connector 36 is retained in this position on the fixed jamb 25, the upward action of the counterbalance means holding the lever 65 in recess 52 and into engagement with the hook 66 forming such recess.

Then, the bottom sash 11 is raised slightly to disengage the hook 82 from the counterbalance arm 68. Upon such disengagement the sash 11 is then shifted bodily to the left against the yieldable jamb 87 and the right hand side is swung outwardly of the window frame elements as indicated in FIG. 13. The sash 11 is then removed completely from the window frame.

Replacement of the bottom sash -11 is substantially the reverse of the above described sequence of steps. Usually, the bottom sash 11 is located at the Window frame so that the hook 82 is positioned above the balance connector arm 71. Then the sash 11 is moved into engagement with the yieldable jamb 87 and the fiber glass pad is compressed to allow the right hand side of the sash to be swung inwardly into the sashway. After location in the sashway and location of the jamb rail 38 into the sash groove 40, the bottom sash 11 is moved downwardly so that hook 82 engages the balance connector arm 68. As the sash 11 is moved downwardly, the balance connector 36 is moved downwardly also. During this downward movement, the lever 65 engages the camming surface 67 and is urged automatically into the slot 37 of fixed jamb 25, thus enabling normal counterbalance operation.

If the lower sash 11 is located, during replacement, so that the book 82 is below the counterbalance connector arm 68, because of miscalculation or carelessness, connection of the sash can still be effectively accomplished. For example, if this type of sash placement occurs, the sash 11 is moved in the usual manner against the yieldable jamb 87 and the resilient fiber glass pad 94 is compressed to allow the right hand side of the sash 11 to be moved into the sashway and to allow the jamb rail 38 to be moved into its cooperating sash groove 40. Then, the bottom sash 11 is raised. Upon raising, the hook 82 will engage the upwardly sloping cam surface 70 of the balance connector arm 68, and thus move the entire sash 11 to the left against the compressive action of the fiber glass pad 94 and yieldable jamb 87, until the hook 82 is moved above the connector arm 68. Then, the sash 11 is lowered to bring the hook 82 down into engagement with the margin 71 of connector arm 68. Upon continued lowering of the sash 11, as previously described, the connector 36 will automatically detach from the metal jamb 25 and be conditioned for normal counterbalance operation.

When the bottom sash 11 is located in the closed position, and the anti-friction buttons and are located in their compatible recesses 107 and 112, the camming margin 71 of the connector arm 68 engaging the hook 82 and supporting the entire weight of the sash tends to urge the right sash stile 13 against the fixed jamb 25 in sealing relation. As explained previously, the yieldable jamb 87 is urged against the left sash stile 14 in sealing relation.

The removal and replacement of the upper sash 12 is similar to that described previously with respect to lower sash 11. For example, to remove upper sash 12, the sash is lowered until the top rail 20 is located directly opposite and aligned with the recess 51 formed in fixed jamb 25. When so located, the lever 54 of the balance connector 28 is digitally moved into the recess 51, the lever 54 being readily accessible at the top of the sash 12. The sash 12 is then raised slightly until the hook 76 disengages and is located above the balance connector arm 58. During this action the counterbalance means urges the balance connector 28 upwardly so that the lever 54 is retained in the recess 51 by the hook 56 forming such recess, thus attaching the balance connector 28 to the fixed jamb 25.

The top sash 12 can then be shifted bodily to the left against the yieldable jamb 87 to compress the fiber glass pad 94, and the right hand side of the sash may be swung outwardly to clear the Window frame and hence removed.

T o replace the top sash '12, the sash is normally located so that the book 76 is above the projecting counterbalance connector arm 58. Then the left hand side of the top sash 12 is depressed against the yieldable jamb 87 and the right hand side swung into the sashway so that rail 32 engages and interfits the sash groove 33. The sash 12 is then lowered until the hok 76 engages the top margin 61 of connector arm 58, and upon continued downward movement of the sash, the connector 28 is moved downwardly therewith. Upon such downward movement, the lever 54 engages the camming shoulder 57 partially defining the recess 51 and is cammed outwardly into the slot 31 for normal counterbalance operation.

Of course the same provision is made to enable effective connection of the counterbalance means if the sash 12 is improperly placed initially with respect to the window frame. For example, if the sash 12 were located with the hook 76 below the connector arm 58, the sash 12 is still depressed against the yieldable jamb 87 and the right hand side swung into the sashway so that the rail 32 interfits the sash groove 33. Then, the sash 12 is raised so that the hook 76 engages the upwardly sloping lower margin 60 of connector arm 58. Upon such engagement, the sash 12 is shifted laterally to the left against the yieldable jamb 87 under the compressive action of resilient fiber glass pad 94 to enable the hook 76 to clear the connector arm 58. When the hook 76 is located above the connector arm 58, the sash can then be lowered until the hook 76 engages the upper cam margin 61. Consequently, the sash can then be lowered to effect operative detachment of the balance connector 28 from the fixed jamb 25 in the manner previously described for normal counterbalance operation.

When the top sash '12 is located in its uppermost closed position, the entire weight of the sash is supported on the camming margin 61 of the balance connector 58. Because of the angle of slope of camming margin 61 and the engagement by hook 76, the sash 12 is urged to the right so that the right sash stile 17 is urged against the fixed jamb 25 in sealing relation. The yieldable jamb 87 is urged under the compressive force of resilient pad 94 against the left sash stile 18 in sealing relation.

It will be noted that the spring arm 102 extends through the yieldable jamb 87 and engages the upper sash 12 when the sash is moved to the closed position so as to support that side of the sash independent of the yieldable jamb 87.

Although the invention has been described by making detailed reference to a preferred embodiment, such detail is to be understood in an instructive, rather than in any restrictive sense, many variants being possible within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a Window unit comprised of frame elements forming a sashway, a sash disposed in said sashway, the frame elements including a jamb member providing a track at one side of said sashway, a counterbalance connector slidably carried by said track and maintained in a fixed path of travel, a hook means on the upper end of one sash stile, the sash connector including an arm extending into said sashway, the arm including a shoulder engaging the hook means to support the sash at its upper end and at one side of the sashway and to prevent lateral sash movement toward the opposite side of said sashway, the track, sash connector and hook means supporting the sash for slidable movement entirely at one side of the sashway.

2. In a Window unit comprised of frame elements forming a sashway, a sash disposed in said sashway, the frame elements including a jamb member providing a track at one side of said sashway, a counterbalance sash connector slidably carried by said track and maintained in a fixed path of travel, hook means on the upper end of one sash stile, the sash connector including an arm extending into said sashway and engaging the hook means at the upper end of the sash to support the sash, the arm being provided with a shoulder engaging the hook means to prevent lateral sash movement toward the opposite side of the sashway, and a lock element pivotally attached to the sash connector and extending into said sashway, the jamb member including an abutment adjacent the track at a particular location, the lock element selectively engaging the abutment to arrest the sash connector incident to sash removal.

3. The combination and arrangement of elements as recited above in claim 2, but further characterized in that the lock element is located above the hook means so as to be accessible at the top end of the sash for manual manipulation to locking engagement with said jamb member abutment.

4. In a Window unit comprised of frame elements forming a sashway, a sash disposed in said sashway, the

frame elements including a jamb member providing a track at one side of said sashway, a counterbalance sash connector slidably carried by said track and maintained in a fixed path of travel, a hook means on the upper end of one sash stile, the sash connector including an arm extending into said sashway and engaging the hook means at the upper end of the sash to support the sash, the arm including a shoulder engaging the hook means to prevent lateral sash movement toward the opposite side of the sashway, the jamb member including a recess portion having an abutment adjacent the track, the sash connector including a lever selectively movable into said recess portion and engaging the abutment to arrest the sash connector incident to sash removal, and a cam defining said recess portion engaging said lever to disconnect the lever from the jamb member upon sash replacement.

5. In a window unit comprised of frame elements forming a sashway, a sash disposed in said sashway, the frame elements including a fixed jamb member providing a track at one side of the sashway, a yieldable jamb member at the other side of said sashway engaging the sash, a counterbalance sash connector slidably received in said track and maintained by said track in a fixed path of travel, the fixed jamb member having a lateral wall provided with an elongate slot adjacent the sashway, hook means on the upper end of one sash stile, the sash connector including an arm extending through the slot and engaging the hook means at the upper end of the sash to support the sash entirely at the one side of said sashway.

6. The combination and arrangement of elements as recited above in claim 5, but further characterized in that the sash connector includes a lever extending through the slot and into the sashway, the lever being digitally accessible at the top of the sash, the lateral wall of the fixed jamb member adjacent the slot being provided with a recess defined by an abutment, the lever being selectively movable digitally into the recess to engage the abutment so as to arrest the counterbalance sash connector incident to operative disengagement of the arm and hook means for sash removal.

7. The combination and arrangement of elements as recited above in claim 6, but further characterized in that the recess is partially defined by a cam shoulder leading from the abutment to the slot, the cam shoulder engaging the lever upon sash replacement so as to move the lever out of said recess and into said slot for normal actuation of the sash connector in said track.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,430,772 Kammerer Nov. 11, 1947 2,720,682 Perry Oct. 18, 1955 2,767,441 Kinish Oct. 23, 1956 2,772,449 Nicoll Dec. 4, 1956 2,778,069 Starck et a1. Jan. 22, 1957 2,796,630 Haas June 25, 1957 2,818,919 Sylvan Jan. 7, 1958 2,821,753 Sitterly Feb. 4, 1958 2,846,000 Kammerer Aug. 5, 1958 2,903,736 Osten Sept. 15, 1959 

